Ash and I on the 4th @ Jenny's in Dallas

tea time encouragement

"the will is always near dear, though the feet may vary"

 Emily Dickinson

the tag on my celestial seasonings tea

 

adios tejas. hola florida.

i could not be more excited about this next week in florida with some of my favorite people.

i don't even know what to title this

I saw this on Ellen this morning and can not stop cracking up!



please note that she has a picture with her x-ray and a box of fiber one...i don't even know what to say.


incredibly hilarious and yet, incredibly disgusting.

reading recommendations.

seeing as I have had probably some of the greatest amounts of free time that I ever have, and probably ever will again, I've been getting some good leisure reads in.

I wanted to recommend some of my favorites that I just finished up:

"Same Kind of Different as Me"
Ron Hall & Denver Moore


I have known about this book for a couple of years and had only heard amazing things about it. Now that I have finally read this, I have to say that this is a MUST read for everyone. Its an incredible story about two very different people's lives being brought together so that God's glory can be known and in the meantime, realizing that we are not as different as we think we are. It is a true story written by the two men themselves. It will encourage, challenge, convict, and move you to tears of joy and sadness.

"Passion & Purity"
Elizabeth Elliot


Elizabeth Elliot is one of my favorite authors and probably one of the top 5 most influential women in my life. Her writings and the way she has lived a life in such devotion to the Lord is something that I admire greatly and desire for myself. I picked up this book when I left Focus because they were getting rid of old copies, so I couldn't pass up a $3.00 buy and yet again, this book had been recommended. Elliot beautifully writes about her courtship experience with her first husband, Jim, and the blessings and trials that came with it. Its an easy and enjoyable book for singles to read.

"The Great Evangelical Disaster"
Francis Schaeffer


This was one of the required readings at Focus and it captivated my attention so much from the small excerpt we had to read that I decided to purchase my own copy. This book has been so insightful and eye-opening to me in regards to how the church has slowly begun to unknowingly allow the culture and secular world control much of what is going on within the church, mainly being the concept of "tolerance." I highly recommend this, I mean, you can't beat a good Schaeffer book, right?

and while I'm reccomending things, if you don't already watch So You Think You Can Dance, you need to start! The season just started last Wednesday and I am already AMAZED by the talent that is on this season's show. For proof and because I love the slumdog soundtrack so much (mainly because it reminds me of fun times in Colorado), this dance makes me incredibly happy

revisiting experiences.

thoughts of zambia fill my heart and mind tonight.

its been almost a year ago next month that I made the trip that I claimed 'forever changed my world'.

don't misread me, it did, has, and will continue to shape who I am.

but tonight has been challenging.

i'm grieved over how easily i have forgotten the impact it had on me as I remember how fresh it was on my mind the first few months back.

daily I would think and pray for the kids for several months after returning. I couldn't seem to function without their faces and stories infiltrating my mind.

I promised myself that I would never get to the point of just letting it become a fond memory of an experience from the past.

i knew it would be hard to continue to be reminded about the kids and the conditions I know they live in as time went on.

and that is exactly what happened.

time went on.

things took precedence, and slowly but surely, thoughts of zambia became more and more sporadic.

so tonight, I'm reminiscing stories, looking at pictures, watching videos, reading old journals entries to remind myself.

so for my sake, I'm writing to remember.
for their sake, I'm writing to inform.
for God's sake, I'm writing for His glory

say it ain't so!

folks. I admit have jumped on my fair share of fashion bandwagons, but tonight's discovery has left me severely concerned.

while browsing through my favorite retail website..i literally did a double take at the tab i saw on the left hand of my screen.

romper.

ROMPER?

first the "belt bag"

now the return of the romper?

and of all people, anthropologie?

the names of each romper are equally as amusing.

"mmm...should I go for the "this or that romper" or the "swimming hole romper"?"

you're killin' me!

it looks as if the fashion trends of 2009 are turning out to be pretty promising so far:
neon, tacky sunglasses, fanny packs and now rompers?

i feel like I'm living in a modern day Saved By The Bell.

holy over me.

this song moves me to tears.

what a sweet Savior we have. He is so good...so good.

You're love has come and taken over me
Your love has caused these blinded eyes to see
You come and fill this empty life I bring
You're holy holy over me

My body and my soul are yours to keep
come make your temple here with liberty
I lay me down for you have promised me
You're holy holy over me

Holy Holy over land and seas
Holy Holy over galaxies
Holy Holy over deepest needs
You're holy holy over me

Your love does not depend on what I do
Your love is freedom and it pleases you
You come and cover me in loving truth
You're holy holy over me

Holy Holy Holy
Lord God Almighty
Early in the morning
My song shall rise to thee
Holy Holy Holy
Merciful and Mighty.
God in three persons
Blessed Trinity.

You're Holy Holy, over me.



tonight in church, a lady played "His eye is on the sparrow" on the piano and I had forgotten how much I love that song.

It always reminds me why I love music so much, why it brings me great joy to be able to participate in melodic creation.

I sing because I'm happy
I sing because I'm free
his eye is on the sparrow
and I know he watches me.

that stanza literally makes me want to run outside in a field of fresh wildflowers with my hands stretched out in the sunlight and belt song after song about how happy and free I am.


Consider the ravens: they neither sow nor reap, they have neither storehouse nor barn, and yet God feeds them. Of how much more value are you than the birds!
Luke 12:24

hilarity.

High School Musical...how I love thee.

How I love thee so much more when you are turned into a hilarious parody.

oh! i just rhymed.

do not be deceived.

I went to Target yesterday and of course just as the marketers planned...walked straight to the purses and accessories that stare you in the face as soon as you walk in the door.

congratulations target marketing team, you have once again suckered in yet another female customer into your trap. No woman actually goes to Target to get normal groceries and just comes out with what they came in for. Amen?

However, today I did not leave with any additional items to go in my closet.

not too long after looking at the latest merchandise..i found this:

ladies and gentleman, i introduce to you: the "belt bag"

this is simply a fanny pack with an alias.

do not be deceived.

considered yourself warned.

Shame on you Target...shame on you.